This year, I will try to listen to less music more. That is, I won't go out of my way to hear and list every possible album I sort of dig on the first spin, and the ones I do include I aim to know thoroughly. A lot of the albums I include tentatively will probably get deleted, too. Without further preamble, interesting albums in no particular order:

Owen Pallett - In Conflict (Art Pop/Chamber Pop. Owen still can't sing, and he's still the most innovative violinist in popular music (as much as I love you, Warren Ellis). Apart from the magic he conjures from the violin, he is also incredible at writing vocal melodies and harmonies. This album takes even further the rich, electronic sound of Heartland, giving greater scope to synths and drums. In The Riverbed, he also wrote his heaviest, almost industrial song. I miss the organic feel of his albums under the Final Fantasy moniker, and I wish he'd get a really skilled vocalist, but this album is magical. 4/5.)

2.

Menace Ruine - Venus Armata(Drone Metal/Neofolk. Beautiful, haunting, comforting, melancholy, and occasionally menacing. The concept of blending drone, doomy riffs and neofolk with medieval flavor and a Nicoesque singer is delicious on paper, but Menace Ruine transcend the sum of their parts to be something greater. They are consistently good, and this album is right up there with The Die Is Cast and Alight in Ashes. Possible track of the year: Red Sulphur. 4/5.)

3.

Pallbearer - Foundations Of Burden(Epicish Traditional Doom. In line with the high expectations set by the debut. The production is better, lending emotional punch to the guitar leads. That's important, because riffs are what the band really excel at. From the opening riff to the breathtaking The Ghost I Used to Be, this is just good doom songwriting through and through. 3,5/5.)

4.

Jenny Hval & Susanna - Meshes of Voice (Art Pop/Experimental. A great blend of creepy/dreamy folk and drone. Susanna's darker and softer voice complements Jenny's sharp wail, and overall the two artists' style is similar enough to produce a coherent album. Not quite as strong as Jenny Hval's solo work, but there are some chilling highlights. 3,5/5.)

5.

Tuomas Henrikin Jeesuksen Kristuksen Bändi - Käkkyrällään (Alternative/Art Rock/Punk. The band is at times lyrically ridiculous and musically awkward or plain crazy, and at first time's difficult to take them seriously. But the more I listen to them, the more they grow on me, and I can't help but feel they have captured something profound about music in their naivety. They can go from heartfelt to ironic to angry in an instant. For a great example, see the melancholic and tender Titityy followed by the massive post-rock build-up of Oksat pois. 3,5/5.)

6.

Kayo Dot - Coffins On Io(Progressive/Experimental Rock. One of the biggest surprises of the year. Kayo Dot have made their softest, most accessible album to date, and it is one of their most interesting. A spacey smooth sound and vocal melodies that are somehow off, but captivating. I really liked Hubardo, but this one takes the cake at least in terms of consistency. 3,5/5.)

7.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Pika Pika Fantajin (J-Pop. Infectiously catchy and extremely well-produced, the album more or less repeats the formula of her previous albums. Some filler, some smash hits, and something in-between. There aren't quite as many really good songs as on Nanda Collection, and Ring A Bell is truly grating, but overall there's little dip in quality. Key track: Yumeno Hajima Ring Ring. 3,5/5.)

8.

Gates - Bloom & Breathe (Post-Rock/Emo. Gorgeous, bombastic post-rock married with big emo melodies. Possibly the most uplifting and one of the most heartfelt albums of the year. 3,5/5.)

9.

Birds of Passage - This Kindly Slumber (Ambient (pop). Alicia Merz is the other half of Brother Sun, Sister Moon whose debut I enjoyed in 2012. (She has previous solo albums too, but I haven't heard them yet.) Unlike that album, This Kindly Slumber is gloomy and frail to the point of spooky. Sighing vocals echo over very sparse and minimal backgrounds. There's plenty of such Grouper-like hazy, folky stuff floating about, but rarely does it have the gravitas and simple effectiveness of this haunting album. 3,5/5.)

10.

Francis Harris - Minutes of Sleep (Ambient/Microhouse. Ambient soundscapes punctuated by drum tracks and some electronic and jazzy elements. There is a cello line in the first track that reminds me very much of Silent Hill and sets the tone for the album: not the creepy industrial horror but the beautiful melancholy of the soundtracks, of radio broadcasts piercing through white noise, faded photographs on the dresser, fog rolling over empty streets. 3,5/5.)

11.

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light On Everything (Post-Rock/Artsy Noise Rock. If you still had your doubts, this album demonstrates Silver Mt. Zion isn't a GY!BE spinoff. The instrumentation is the kind of cacophonic post-rock you'd expect from these guys, and the almost-punk vocals add an element of urgency and frustration that makes it distinctive. The album is a very intense listen, and the experience is crowned by the slow and beautiful What We Loved Was Not Enough amid all the noise. 3,5/5.)

12.

Have A Nice Life - The Unnatural World(Lo-Fi/Post-Punk/Shoegaze/Drone. Six years after the cult classic Deathconsciousness, the duo is back with a less ambitious, more coherent album of drony, dark post-punk. The intentionally poor production works most of the time, and the best songs (like the opener) are really good, but there is some mediocre material too. 3,5/5.)

13.

Nadja - Queller(Shoegaze/Drone Metal. Nadja's discography is spotty, but they keep coming back with major albums that prove they're worth following. Queller is one such album. Sleepy vocals, warm and fuzzy guitar/bass sound, this is perhaps closer to (really slow) shoegaze than drone. The aesthetic has something in common with Desire In Uneasiness, but Queller is much more melodic. 3,5/5.)

14.

Mirel Wagner - When The Cellar Children See The Light Of Day (Singer-Songwriter/Folk/Blues. Like the debut, these are some seriously dark songs, conjured up solely through acoustic guitar and Mirel's earthy voice. It's mostly slow folk, but sometimes the chord progressions and the raw nakedness of it remind one of blues. As with the excellent debut, songwriting is consistently at least decent, with some really good highlights. With an album as short as this, the lack of diversity doesn't really matter - indeed, a faster song or some bigger instrumentation would have just broken the spell. Highlights: Ellipsis, Taller Than Trees. 3,5/5.)

15.

Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen(Folk Metal/Black Metal. A very predictable album, but a very solid one at that. Sticking to their romantic, testosterone-infused anthems, they push all the right emotional and headbanging buttons without innovation. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! 3,5/5.)

16.

Grouper - Ruins (Ambient/Singer-Songwriter. Sonically, this is Liz Harris' least ambient album. Flirting with conventional songwriting is nothing new to her, but this one is 100% piano. The melodies are minimalistic, looping in on themselves, reminiscent of modern composers like Nils Frahm. It is very soothing but somewhat lacking in diversity. The closing track, Made of Air, is the only exception, being a softly droning ambient piece. What the album lacks in texture and ambition it makes up for in beauty and memorable melody. 3,5/5.)

17.

Sevendeaths - Concretè Misery (Progressive Electronic/Drone. Really good, spacey and cold music reminiscent of Phaedra/Rubycon-era Tangerine Dream, complemented with some pretty straightforward drone. The first track (Petrograde) is very representative and very good. The album is a bit on the short side. 3,5/5.)

18.

Earth - Primitive And Deadly(Psychedelic Rock/Post-Rock. This has been hailed as a return to farm after the Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light albums. Certainly, it's more interesting than the second installation, but there's nothing as good as Old Black on the album. The opening track is very similar in its structure, revolving around and gradually building on a central motif - but the riff isn't as inspired. The heavier sound is a nice change, and the real highlight are Rabia Shaneen Qazi's guest vocals. It just feels the riffs aren't as original and memorable as Earth can do at their sharpest. Good stuff, but they can do better. 3,5/5.)

19.

Siinai - Supermarket (Progressive Electronic/Krautrock. This shares the hypnotic beats and rich soundscapes of classic krautrock but lacks the hazy, psychedelic atmosphere. The progressive electronic elements I might compare to Stratosfear-era Tangerine Dream, when they started sounding lusher and employing more melody and richer instrumentation. Really good, sleek, memorable and, most of all, diverse album. 3,5/5.)

20.

Darkspace - Dark Space III I(Atmospheric/Ambient Black Metal. There is something soothing and soft about Darkspace's brand of spacey, ambient black metal. Like wrapping yourself in the black velvet blanket of the night sky. The album is a little on the long side, but I could listen to the best riffs all day. 3,5/5.)

21.

Mondkopf - Hadès (Electronic/Dark Ambient. A really impressive blend of electronic melodies, some industrial beats and dark ambient. Not only does it sound great, it's also fairly memorable, which is rare in the genre. 3,5/5.)

22.

Swans - To Be Kind (Experimental Rock. No doubt the most overrated album of the year, but that's not to say it isn't impressive. There is something disturbing and depraved about its relentless grooves. Despite being heavy as fuck, it's not as monotonous or difficult to listen to as The Seer. It never matches the highlights of Soundtracks for the Blind, for example, but its remarkable consistency (something which SftB can't boast of) makes it one of the better Swans albums. 3,5/5.)

23.

Tori Amos - Unrepentant Geraldines (Singer-Songwriter/Adult Contemporary. Sigh. Tori, oh Tori. Undoubtedly the most talented and unique female singer-songwriter along with Kate Bush, but she just can't seem to release a solid album nowadays. The best tracks here show she's absolutely still got it: Weatherman, Oysters and Invisible Boy are nearly as good as anything she ever did. But there are 14 songs on the album, and some of them are entirely average. Nonetheless, this is her best album in a while, possibly since Scarlet's Walk. 3,5/5.)

24.

CunninLynguists - Strange Journey Volume Three (Hip Hop. There are a lot of guest appearances on this album, and it feels a bit like a mixed bag. It's not as good as Oneirology or A Piece of Strange, but those are some of the best hip hop albums ever, so... The beats and samples are still wonderful, evoke a dreamy atmosphere. 3,5/5.)

25.

Moonface - City Wrecker (Singer-Songwriter/Piano Rock. An EP very much continuing where Julia With Blue Jeans On left off, it is mainly just a piano and Spencer Krug's heart-wrenching, soulful vocals. Gloomy and beautiful, but the songs aren't quite as strong as the highlights of last year's LP. 3,5/5.)

26.

Orcas - Yearling (Dream Pop/Ambient. This is a good dream pop album with some ambient tracks. But after the fragile magic of the debut, I expected better. The vocals are much more prominent, as are drums. Though good tracks as such, Infinite Stillness and Half Light are just too in-your-face on an Orcas album. On its own merits, though, a very nice album. Key tracks: Capillaries, Filament. 3,5/5.)

27.

Prawn - Kingfisher (Emo. In the same midwest emo style as Gates, but not quite as awesome. Upbeat, energetic, pretty music with some lush, post-rock-inspired arrangements. 3,5/5.)

28.

Scandinavian Music Group - Terminal 2 (Art Pop/Rock. A change of style after three albums of warm country/folk, and their best album since the phenomenal Missä olet, Laila? The new sound harkens back to their cold and slightly electronic debut, with nods to 80s synth pop and AOR. Check out Ei paniikkia and Las Vegasin raunioilla. 3,5/5.)

29.

First Aid Kit - Stay Gold (Folk Pop. They have become gradually poppier while their arrangements have grown more polished. While I miss the naked simplicity of their debut EP, there's something to be said for the lush soundscapes conjured here. The songwriting isn't on the level of The Lion's Roar, but their vocal harmonies are still like honey. 3,5/5.)

30.

Hail Spirit Noir - Oi Magoi(Psychedelic/Progressive (Black) Metal. A more mature effort than the debut, but no less unique for it. I haven't listened to it much because I haven't been in the mood for this kind of stuff, but I can't in good conscience rate in any lower than the debut - it's just as good. 3,5/5.)

31.

Einar Stray Orchestra - Politricks (Chamber Pop/Post-Rock. A disappointing sophomore album after the magnificent and fresh Chiaroscuro. Einar Stray sounds something like Sufjan Stevens meets Efterklang, with a dash of Sigur Rós and Dirty Three. Unfortunately, instead of pushing further the subtle and tasteful chamber post-rock of the debut, Politricks opts for cruder arrangements and a few very awkward moments ("the terrorist will hunt me down, the terrorist will kill your man" sung over very minimal instrumentation, doubling the cringe). With more emphasis on Einar's vocal melodies (or maybe it's the mixing), it also becomes apparent that he's not a very good singer. The compositions are still interesting and show real talent, but the presentation feels amateurish. As surprising a letdown as the debut was surprising a success. 3/5.)

32.

Pilgrim - II: Void Worship(Traditional Doom. Meat and potatoes doom metal with no experimentation, psychedelia or genre-bending bullshit. Much like Reverend Bizarre, they've taken what they think is the essence of doom and distilled it of all contaminants. They're not as charismatic or memorable as some of their peers, but they are as doom as they come. 3/5.)

33.

Sun Kil Moon - Benji (Contemporary Folk. Just another Mark Kozelek album, to be honest. I don't know how this album managed to get such big attention - the unpredictable tides of internet fame, perhaps - but it really isn't anything we haven't heard from Mark before. I personally found his collaborations with Desertshore and Jimmy LaValle last year more interesting than this, though Benji is better than Among The Leaves. Still nowhere near the glory of Ghosts of the Great Highway (even if, inexplicably, this has more votes on RYM than that one!?) or Red House Painters. Just a weary douchebag singing honest folk tunes about his fucked up life. I love him, but he could try harder musically. 3/5.)

34.

Rome - Passage to Rhodesia (Neofolk. Pretty much what you've come to expect from Rome: lush and memorable neofolk with a martial industrial edge. Does not hold a candle to Rome's masterpieces, but Reuter's voice is a treat to listen to and the best tracks are really worthwhile (see: The Ballad of Red Flame Lily). 3/5.)

35.

Lethe - When Dreams Become Nightmares(Electronic Rock/Trip-Rock. The closest comparison to this weird album would probably be the experimental era of The 3rd and The Mortal (something between Painting on Glass and In This Room) and the electronic era of The Gathering (more like Home in tone, more like Souvenirs in scope). Probably a little more abrasive and out-there than either of them, too. Lethe don't do this nearly as well as the aforementioned giants, but there's very little similar stuff out there and this is more than good enough to scratch that itch. 3/5.)

36.

Tara Jane O'Neil - Where Shine New Lights (Dream Pop/Ambient Pop. There's a slowcore aesthetic to the swaying, wispy music of Tara Jane O'Neil, but it isn't really sad or gloomy. It is the musical equivalent of a languid summer afternoon on some meadow, dandelion seeds already sailing through the air. This album is the sunny counterpart to the Birds of Passage and Grouper albums, but not quite as impressive. 3/5.)

37.

Black Swan Lane - A Moment of Happiness (Post-Punk/Dream Pop. The genre labels may be a little misleading, because the tone of the singer's voice and something about the mood and vocal melodies of the album remind me of the neofolk/martial industrial band Rome. Fans of later Antimatter would probably also dig this. Really unusual band, extremely polished and mature for how relatively unknown and original they are. 3/5.)

38.

Chinawoman - Let's Part In Style (Art Pop/Slowcore. This is a weird one. It is skeletal, groovy and noir, with a firm electronic base but closer to post-punk than IDM. Spiritually and in terms of mood the album has something in common with Timber Timbre. 3/5.)

39.

Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness (Lo-Fi Singer-Songwriter/Indie Folk. Americana-influenced, gloomy lo-fi indie rock/folk. She's like a Cat Power or Waxahatchee playing what are, at their core, country songs. Occasionally boring, but the most painful tracks are quite devastating. Highlight: Unfucktheworld. 3/5.)

40.

Aphex Twin - Syro (IDM. This feels like an incoherent exercise in nostalgia. If you really like Aphex Twin, you'll no doubt find the album enjoyable if not innovative. 3/5.)

41.

Bohren & der Club of Gore - Piano Nights (Ambient Jazz. These guys are always good, and this is very much in line with their previous, sax-led smooth and nocturnal style. Nothing really caught my ear to make me want to play this in favor of Sunset Mission or Black Earth, though. 3/5.)

42.

This Will Destroy You - Another Language (Post-Rock/Ambient. I like this better than Tunnel Blanket, their previous album. They've taken some of the ambient textures from that album and slapped on some of their good old-fashioned post-rock riffs on top. The synthesis works, stylistically, but does not make their songwriting really stand out in the genre. 3/5.)

43.

Sage Francis - Copper Gone (Hip Hop. Good, witty lyricism - attempting to be a little more high-brown than the average rapper, I suppose. It gets a bit too melodramatic at times, though. It's not as lush as CunninLynguists, but the beats are similarly beautiful and atmospheric. 3/5.)

44.

St. Vincent - St. Vincent (Art Pop. Jagged, angular and a little noisy. St. Vincent has taken cues from her recent collaboration with David Byrne, which shows in the beats and electronic elements. Stylistically, this is quite cool - Rattlesnake and Digital Witness [i]sound[/i] good - but much of the songwriting is just mediocre. On the other hand, Prince Johnny is by far the best composition on the album (and one of the best pop songs of the year), and its style is very vanilla. Not her strongest album. 3/5.)

45.

Hundreds - Aftermath (Dream Pop/Indie Pop. A very pleasant if unmemorable listen. The singer reminds me of Dido, and the music could be hers if she was into the ambient/downtempo aesthetic. 3/5.)

46.

Sharon Van Etten - Are We There (Contemporary Folk/Singer-Songwriter. Maybe it's me being apathetic about a lot of music this year, but this didn't seem as interesting as Tramp. Or maybe I overrated that one? Her voice is wonderful and there are some catchy melodies (Taking Chances) but there's no Give Out here, and the album doesn't really go anywhere. Competent and occasionally beautiful, but also boring. 3/5.)

47.

Wijlen Wij - Coronachs Of The Ω(Funeral Doom. Within the parameters of the genre, this is beautiful and almost upbeat. Clean vocals, Skepticismesque organ, some light piano interludes etc. The songs are pretty mundane, but there are highlights (particularly Boreas, the opener) and the sound is nice. Solid funeral doom. 3/5.)

48.

Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems (Singer-Songwriter. Solid Cohen, very little else to say about it. Some pleasant and inoffensive tunes, and a few really good ones. Samson in New Orleans, for one, shows that he can still write relevant and heartfelt music. 3/5.)

49.

Snowbird - Moon (Dream Pop/Chamber Pop. The bassist of Cocteau Twins teamed up with a singer who sounds something like Elizabeth Fraser to record an album of lush, dreamy and beautifully arranged chamber pop. It could do with some weight or edge; it has none of the darkness of Cocteau Twins or brave determination of Talk Talk. A pleasant listen, though. 3/5.)

50.

Mayhem - Esoteric Warfare(Black Metal. I like the suffocating sound, but the songwriting just isn't as good as on Ordo ad chao. It's also too relentlessly fast, with not enough room for atmosphere and juicy, drawn-out riffs. Enjoyable but not great. 3/5.)

51.

Warpaint - Warpaint (Dream Pop/Trip Hop. A decent follow-up to the lauded 2010 debut. Their great sound is a recognizable blend of dream pop, trip hop beats and neo-psychedelia (of the Mazzy Star variety), but the songwriting isn't strong enough to carry through the whole album. 3/5.)

52.

Keaton Henson - Romantic Works (Chamber Music/Impressionism. Pretty middle-of-the-road, melancholy chamber music revolving around the cello and the piano, with some ambient background textures. Pretty but forgettable. 3/5.)

Jess Williamson - Native State (Folk/Americana. Nice but pretty by-the-book country/bluegrass-tinged folk. She's got a nice voice, although it sounds like a dozen other americana singers. Check out Field, and Blood Song. 3/5.)

55.

Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi - 2 (Art Pop. What a disappointment. Ironically, this both rocks harder and sounds more middle-aged than the debut. Kerkko Koskinen also sings a lot more, which he really should leave to the three women. Replacing the clear and sharp, crystal-like voice of Paula Vesala with Maija Vilkkumaa's husky and nasal whine did not improve their sound, but alas. The songwriting isn't as memorable, either. In every a step down from the really good debut. Barely a 3/5.)

There's a genre called "microhouse." That's extremely adorable. I need to go through this list.

Yeah. I am not entirely sure if Francis Harris qualifies as microhouse, but Nicholas Jaar was the closest reference I could think of. I'll think you like it, and Mondkopf. The new Tycho is not quite as good as the 2011 album, I'm afraid.

Is this list ranked? I am looking for some nice dream pop stuff...start at the top?

It is not. It's mostly in order of discovery.

If you want pretty, dreamy and almost ambient, go for Tara Jane O'Neil, Snowbird, and Birds of Passage. They remind me of something like Cocteau Twins, Slowdive (on Pygmalion), Grouper and Orcas. For shoegazey guitarwalls, Have A Nice Life is boss. I have not found much good middle-of-the-road, traditional dream pop this year. It's usually pretty generic stuff.

Quote:This year, I will try to listen to less music more. That is, I won't go out of my way to hear and list every possible album I sort of dig on the first spin, and the ones I do include I aim to know thoroughly

This is the way music should be listened to.

Listening to something once doesn't really allow one to appreciate something (though it's fine to disregard an album on first listen if it's of a genre/style one doesn't like).

Written by deadone on 07.04.2014 at 03:57Listening to something once doesn't really allow one to appreciate something (though it's fine to disregard an album on first listen if it's of a genre/style one doesn't like).

I've come to realize this myself. I used to churn through album after album, rarely revisiting ones I wrote off after a single listen. Now I have less of an urge to look into new stuff, choosing instead to focus on replaying albums I've already heard and growing familiar with them.

So far I've found my listening experience to be far more enjoyable. I may not pump out as many reviews or be able to recommend as many new albums, but I enjoy listening to music more for me than for others now so it doesn't matter.

I've come to realize this myself. I used to churn through album after album, rarely revisiting ones I wrote off after a single listen. Now I have less of an urge to look into new stuff, choosing instead to focus on replaying albums I've already heard and growing familiar with them.

So far I've found my listening experience to be far more enjoyable. I may not pump out as many reviews or be able to recommend as many new albums, but I enjoy listening to music more for me than for others now so it doesn't matter.

Very good post and one I agree with.

Especially the bit about listening to music for one self - it is after all about enjoying something.

I tend to listen to albums dozens/hundreds of times and over the course of decades. And every now and then I throw in something new that grabs my ears.

Listening to something once doesn't really allow one to appreciate something (though it's fine to disregard an album on first listen if it's of a genre/style one doesn't like).

I agree, but it's not really an isolated choice between listening to a good album superficially or thoroughly. If it was, it would be a no-brainer. It's a matter of resource allocation. How are you going to allocate X amount of listening-hours between Y number of albums? Simply checking out new albums takes a lot of time. And, truthfully, there are more good (3-star) albums released a year than one person can properly listen to. The only way to differentiate between the great and the merely good is to listen to them. What I used to do was give an album a spin, and if I liked it or saw potential, add it to my list. Then I would revisit it in the months to come, or maybe delete it if I hadn't/it turned out to be crap. That is really the best way to discover what's really good, but it's time-consuming. Whether it's worth it, is anyone's guess.

So it is a real, non-trivial choice. Either way you're going to lose something valuable. I don't have so much time and energy this year (I already had a lack of enthusiasm for proper reviews last year), so I've decided to stick with names I know and cherry-pick albums that look like I am going to love them. I will not spend effort trying to appreciate albums that just might turn out to be masterpieces, or looking up obscure Bandcamp demos that could become the next big thing. I don't think it's ideal; I will almost certainly lose out on some great stuff, and might never discover what could have become an all-time favorite. But on the flip side, it makes the endeavor lot less stressful, and it lets me focus on those few albums that I do suspect will become favorites.

I think listening style is a matter of taste, but also of life situation. Sometimes you have time and energy to delve deep, other times you don't. I don't mean my list title to be a general declaration - it's just where I'm at right now.

Either way you're going to lose something valuable. I don't have so much time and energy this year (I already had a lack of enthusiasm for proper reviews last year), so I've decided to stick with names I know and cherry-pick albums that look like I am going to love them.
.....

I think listening style is a matter of taste, but also of life situation. Sometimes you have time and energy to delve deep, other times you don't. I don't mean my list title to be a general declaration - it's just where I'm at right now.

I did not expect to find "Timber timbre"
I love this music "hot dreams", I love this music "hot dreams" she's sexy !

The album is one of my favorites this year, and will probably be in the top 15 by the end. I love gloomy ballads and deep male voices (Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave etc.) so I've always enjoyed Timber Timbre a lot.

I don't think I knew any of your recommendations, but Blood Orange sounded nice. CHeers.

I did not expect to find "Timber timbre"
I love this music "hot dreams", I love this music "hot dreams" she's sexy !

The album is one of my favorites this year, and will probably be in the top 15 by the end. I love gloomy ballads and deep male voices (Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave etc.) so I've always enjoyed Timber Timbre a lot.

I don't think I knew any of your recommendations, but Blood Orange sounded nice. CHeers.

you have given me want to listen to the album
I know that "hot dreams" !
I'll tell you what I think when I have listened

I get all that, but what does 'epic" have to with atmospheric black? I see nothing "epic" about WIITR or AoP or ITW...or Agalloch. I could go on and on...
Must be something new cause I haven't seen that tag with Atmo-Black before.

I get all that, but what does 'epic" have to with atmospheric black? I see nothing "epic" about WIITR or AoP or ITW...or Agalloch. I could go on and on...
Must be something new cause I haven't seen that tag with Atmo-Black before.

Summoning can be labelled as epic atmospheric black metal because it is epic music as well as very atmospheric... and black metal (though they've become less BM with each album). And no, WITTR and Agalloch indeed aren't "epic" I'd say. I wouldn't call ITW... epic either, at least not their debut. AoP = Altar of Plagues I assume? Nope, nothing epic about them either.

Summoning can be labelled as epic atmospheric black metal because it is epic music as well as very atmospheric... and black metal (though they've become less BM with each album). And no, WITTR and Agalloch indeed aren't "epic" I'd say. I wouldn't call ITW epic either, at least not their debut. AoP = Altar of Plagues I assume? Nope, nothing epic about them either.

Right on Eric. So are we to assume this is a new form of black metal? Is 'epic' referring to length? Because all of those bands I mentioned they all have some loooong songs. Maybe the mean "massive", in scale, for overall sound.

Right on Eric. So are we to assume this is a new form of black metal? Is 'epic' referring to length? Because all of those bands I mentioned they all have some loooong songs. Maybe the mean "massive", in scale, for overall sound.

Epic is really in the eye (or ear) of the beholder, as is atmospheric really, so don't get hung up on it. It's far from being an "official" term.

Ahhh could have asked you too JOOE. Why am I seeing these two tags together now? I don't remember ever seeing "atmo black" and "epic" in the same tag.

It's just a bunch of adjectives people throw at bands to try to describe their sound. I don't really think "epic" or "atmospheric" are universal enough to really be used as genre tags myself, though they can be useful when describing something outside of that when used in a certain context.

It's just a bunch of adjectives people throw at bands to try to describe their sound. I don't really think "epic" or "atmospheric" are universal enough to really be used as genre tags myself, though they can be useful when describing something outside of that when used in a certain context.

It's just so hilarious how the shit catches on. One band or music blogger probably did it now everyone is doing it where is applies. It's like the hive mentality.

Right on Eric. So are we to assume this is a new form of black metal? Is 'epic' referring to length? Because all of those bands I mentioned they all have some loooong songs. Maybe the mean "massive", in scale, for overall sound.

No, "epic" is referring to the epic sound of the music: often drums add a majestic and bombastic feeling to the music, like is definitely the case with those songs I just posted. In some cases, like epic doom metal, the vocals add to the epicness as well, like in Candlemass' case. Summoning also has quite a few songs that are more epic because of the vocals. One of the best example would be this song:

Notice the majestic clean vocals that create a very uplifting and epic feeling to the music as a whole. Oh, and of course lyrics do definitely add to the epicness as well, in some cases. The chorus (clean vocals) of Farewell or example:

"Farewell, leave the shore to an ocean wide and untamed
Hold your shield high, let the wind bring your enemy your nightmare
By the bane of my blade, a mighty spell is made and
Far beyond the battle blood shall fall like a hard rain."

So basically it's drums, vocals and lyrical themes that make music epic, at least in my opinion. You can add synths/keyboards to that as well, which are mainly used to create a certain atmosphere.

Calling something "Epic" is about as valid and subjective as calling it "good". It is in no way official terminology, and I would never use it to actually label something.

Wrong. While calling epic of course isn't totally objective, it's really objective to some extent. Would you call Candlemass epic doom or just doom metal? Calling them simply doom metal wouldn't be wrong, but it wouldn't be accurate either. Same goes for Summoning, whether you think they're boring or not. It's generally agreed and accepted that some bands play some sort of epic metal.

Wrong. While calling epic of course isn't totally objective, it's really objective to some extent. Would you call Candlemass epic doom or just doom metal? Calling them simply doom metal wouldn't be wrong, but it wouldn't be accurate either. Same goes for Summoning, whether you think they're boring or not.

Why though? You haven't provided and reasoning for it? In terms of song structure, composition, musical techniques, etc... Summoning is completely stereotypical of atmospheric black metal, and Candlemass are simply a standard Doom band.

Why though? You haven't provided and reasoning for it? In terms of song structure, composition, musical techniques, etc... Summoning is completely stereotypical of atmospheric black metal, and Candlemass are simply a standard Doom band.

I haven't provided reasoning for it? If you scroll a bit up then you'll see my reasoning.

I haven't provided reasoning for it? If you scroll a bit up then you'll see my reasoning.

This is the last I'll respond on the issue since we seem to have derailed Iron's list.
You didn't provide reasoning as to why it should be classified as epic, you provided reasoning as to why YOU PERSONALLY think it's epic. None of the information you provided was objective, and you simply said various things sounded "epic", which to me, they don't. They sound mundane and repetitive. If you want to classify something as "epic", go for it, but the fact of the matter is you simply can't argue that it's a valid GENRE TAG because there aren't any structural differences in the music. The differences between ambient black metal and standard black metal ala Emperor are clear and can be objectively defined. The differences between Summoning and other "atmospheric" black metal bands are virtually non-existent except for the actual melodies and production. NOW, no more on this, you can send me a PM if you really want to continue this conversation.

Iron, I think you may enjoy this. It's a pretty interesting mix of genres ranging from noise/ambient to folk

We need to keep in mind that "epic doom metal" is a pretty established genre with certain stylistic features (which you can look up if you don't know), but the same doesn't seem to go for the "epic" tag in front of just any genre.

We need to keep in mind that "epic doom metal" is a pretty established genre with certain stylistic features (which you can look up if you don't know), but the same doesn't seem to go for the "epic" tag in front of just any genre.

Indeed. And for some reason Alex and Joe think it's not an official genre-tag, while in fact it's used pretty much everywhere. Candlemass is known for playing epic doom (Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, does that ring a bell?), just like Summoning is known for playing epic black metal. Hell, there's even a T-shirt that "proves" this: Summoning - Epic Black Metal T-Shirt.

Indeed. And for some reason Alex and Joe think it's not an official genre-tag, while in fact it's used pretty much everywhere. Candlemass is known for playing epic doom (Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, does that ring a bell?), just like Summoning is known for playing epic black metal. Hell, there's even a T-shirt that "proves" this: Summoning - Epic Black Metal T-Shirt.

But there are no stylistic relations between Candlemass and Summoning, which highlights how fallible the term is and relatively useless as a descriptive genre tag.

Also, a t shirt doesn't prove anything or sway your argument. If it does I'm going to attest that Archgoat are "angelslaying black fucking metal" or Darkthrone "true Aryan black metal" my point being that bands put all kind of rubbish on their shirts. It doesn't make it official in any capacity.

This is the last I'll respond on the issue since we seem to have derailed Iron's list.
You didn't provide reasoning as to why it should be classified as epic, you provided reasoning as to why YOU PERSONALLY think it's epic. None of the information you provided was objective, and you simply said various things sounded "epic", which to me, they don't. They sound mundane and repetitive. If you want to classify something as "epic", go for it, but the fact of the matter is you simply can't argue that it's a valid GENRE TAG because there aren't any structural differences in the music. The differences between ambient black metal and standard black metal ala Emperor are clear and can be objectively defined. The differences between Summoning and other "atmospheric" black metal bands are virtually non-existent except for the actual melodies and production. NOW, no more on this, you can send me a PM if you really want to continue this conversation.

Iron, I think you may enjoy this. It's a pretty interesting mix of genres ranging from noise/ambient to folk

Not saying MA is very trustworthy, but this and this would tell you something. Thousands of bands are labelled as epic doom or epic black metal it seems.

Look, both epic doom and epic black metal are generally accepted genre-tags. Fine by me if you want to disagree with that simply because you don't recognize epic music when you hear it.

But there are no stylistic relations between Candlemass and Summoning, which highlights how fallible the term is and relatively useless as a descriptive genre tag.

Also, a t shirt doesn't prove anything or sway your argument. If it does I'm going to attest that Archgoat are "angelslaying black fucking metal" or Darkthrone "true Aryan black metal" my point being that bands put all kind of rubbish on their shirts. It doesn't make it official in any capacity.

Often bands that play epic metal, whether it's doom, black or heavy, all have a similar kind of bombastic drumming. Lyrical themes, often fantasy and mythology, are also a thing they have in common. Generally the music is rather uplifting, although I know that's pretty subjective. I linked that T-Shirt to point it out, not to prove it hence why I wrote "prove".